Inhaler.



Patented Mar. I9, I90}.

NIL. 670,084.

- J. B. SLDANE.

l N H A L E B.

(Application filed Oct. 13, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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Ilarra STATES ATENT FFICE.

JOHN B. SLOANE, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

INHALER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 670,084, dated March19, 1901 Application filed October 13, 1399. serial No. 733,465. (Nomodel.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN B. SLOANE, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Inhalers,of which the following is a specification, reference being had thereinto the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improvement in inhaling apparatus of thekind in which the liquid medicaments are vaporized by means of heat andinhaled through a mask fitting over the mouth and nose.

With the increased knowledge we have acquired as to the contagious orcommunicable nature of certain cat-arrhal and pulmonary diseases it hasbecome evident that the indiscriminate use of inhalers for the treatmentof these and other diseases involves a serious danger unless theconstruction is based upon correct sanitary requirements, whereby withthe exercise of ordinary precaution as to cleanliness all possibledanger of making the inhaler a vehicle of communicating disease isavoided. From this point of view the inhalers in present useare more orless objectionable, as it will be easily understood that the use oftubes, contracted or tortuous passages, nozzles, valves, joints, orother inaccessible hiding-places or the use of rubber or other porousmaterials or a general complication of parts should be avoided.

It is .the object of my invention to make an inhaler in which none ofthese objectionable features are present, while at the same time itformsa perfect inhaler in all otherrespects.

To this end my invention consists in the peculiar and novelconstruction, arrangement, and operation of an inhaling vessel of glassforming a combined mask-receptacle and vaporizing-chainberall integrallyformed in one piece, and in combining with the same a heater having aframe for supporting the inhaling Vessel in position for use and toapply heat thereto indirectly for vaporizing the liquid, all as morefully hereinafter described, and shown in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved inhaler partly in section,and Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the inhaling vessel detached.

In the drawings, A represents a lam p-frame,

B a handle for carrying it, and C a spiritlamp or equivalent heater.

The top of the lamp-frame is formed by a heating-drum composed of ashell D, open at the top and closed at the bottom by a plate E, theunder side of which is exposed to the direct heat of the flame and ispreferably screened by a perforated skirting F, depending from the outeredge of the bottom plate E. The heating-dru m is preferably of conicalshape, being wider at the base than at the top; but it may becylindrical or of any other suitable shape, and on the inside it islined on the bottom (or on the sides as well) with asbestos G or otherslow heat-conducting medium.

H is the inhaling vessel, made of glass. It is formed with a bodyportion a, adapted to close the open mouth of the drum and support theinhaling vessel in position therein with its flat bottom in heatingcontact with the bottom of the drum and forming a hot-air chamber Haround its sides. The upper end of the inhaling vessel is formed with anelbow portion 1), and this terminates in the flaring end portions a,shaped upon lines so that it will constitute and form a mask over themouth and nose of the person using the inhaler.

I prefer to have the inhaling vessel enlarge gradually from the bottomup, with the elbow at a convenient angle to bring the mask in easycontact with the face without tipping the lamp. In the rear side of theelbow, at a point where the same may be easily grasped with the hand, Iprovide an opening (1, preferably of a size so that it may be closed byplacing a finger upon it.

In practice the liquid medicament to be used having been poured into theinhaling vessel, the latter is placed in the drum, which acts as aholder, and the lamp is lighted. The heat being thus indirectly appliedwill produce a constant slow vaporization, and as the air-space H beingclosed forms a hot-air chamber surrounding the body a the latter forms avaporizing-chamber in which a constant volume of heated vapor ismaintained, While the exposed upper portion projecting above the drumprevents it from becoming too hot for inhaling. The amount of vapor canbe regulated by regulating the flame; but it will be seen that asidefrom that the patient having one hand upon the elbow of the vesseleasily feels the heat, and as the inhaler is only loosely stuck into thedrum he can vary the heating contact at the bottom of the vessel byliftipg it up or pressing it down.

The opening (1 admits air into the vessel above the vaporizing-chamber,and the quantity thus admitted may be regulated by using the finger as acontrolling-valve, and before it is inhaled it becomes hot and dry andmixes with the vapor. If the patient desires to exhale freely throughthe vessel, the opening (Z is left uncovered, and it will be understoodthat under such condition of use the breathing is always easy, as thereis a relatively large volume of air contained in the vessel.

My construction fully attains the objects of the invention. The inhalingvessel combining the mask, vaporizing-chamber, air-mixing, heating, anddrying vessel, vaporizingchamber, and receptacle for the medicament, allintegrally in one, may be made of glass, porcelain, or other likematerial, and answers in the highest degree to all sanitaryrequirements, as it may be cleaned and disinfected as easy as anyordinary tumbler.

Other advantages are that its operation is so sim ple and obvious thatanybody will easily understand its manipulation and use. Further, it iseconomical, as it does not require a large quantity of medicament asmany other inhalers; but the smallest quantity will produce results. Inan emergency the inhaling vessel may be used without the lamp by settingit in a tumbler or other suit-able vessel containing hot water.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In an inhaler, the combination of anelbow-shaped inhaling vessel formed with a lower standing portionconstituting the receptacle for the medicament to be vaporized andadapted to hold the same over a heating device and an upperlaterally-extending integral portion constituting a face-mask, asupporting-frame to receive the standing portion of the inhaler andsupport it with its mask in position for inhaling, and means for heatingthe medicament.

2. In an inhaler, the combination of an elbow-shaped inhaling vesselintegrally composed of a standing body portion forming a receptacle forthe medicament to be vaporized and a vaporizing-chamber for themedicament to be vaporized, and an upper portion extending laterallybeyond the body portion and forming the face-mask of the inhaler, and alamp having a frame formed with a supporting-base upon which the lamp ismounted and with a holder above the lamp adapted to re ceive the bodyportion of the inhaler, and form an air-heating chamber around the same,said lamp-frame supporting the inhaling vessel with its face-mask inposition for inhaling.

3. In an inhaler, the combination of an elbow-shaped inhaling vesselintegrally composed of a substantially vertical body portion adapted toreceive a liquid medicament for vaporizing and of an upper portionextending laterally beyond the body portion and constituting aface-mask, said vessel having an opening for admitting air into thevessel directly above the body portion, a lampframe having asupporting-base upon which the lamp is supported and a drum above saidbase adapted to receive and inclose the body portion of the inhalingvessel below said airopening and support it in standing position withthe face-mask in position for inhaling, said drum forming an inclosedair space around the body portion of the inhaler and having its bottomexposed to the heat of the lamp.

4. In an inhaler, the combination of an elbow-shaped inhaling vesselintegrally formed of vitreous material with a cup-shaped body portionadapted to receive the liquid medicament and with a laterally-extendingupper portion enlarging into and constituting a face-mask, said vesselhaving an opening for admitting air thereto directly above the bodyportion under control of a finger in holding the inhaler in position forinhaling, and a heating device adapted to support the inhaler with thecup-shaped portion thereof in standing position and exposed to the heatand with the upper portion extending laterally beyond the heater inposition for inhaling.

5. In an inhaler, the combination of the elbow-shaped inhaling vesselformed of vitreous material and composed of the cup-sl1aped taperingbody portion a and the laterally-extending upper portion integraltherewith and terminating into a face-mask c, said vessel having anopening (I for admitting air into said vessel, the lamp 0, thelamp-frame having a supporting-base upon which the lamp is mounted, thedrum D of the lamp-frame above the lamp forming an inclosed air-spacearound the body of the lamp and supporting the inhaler in position forinhaling, and the lining G at the bottom of the drum with which thebottom of the inhaler is in heating contact.

6. In an inhaler, a combined medicamentholder and mask comprising astanding cupshaped portion adapted to hold a medicament or the like, anda laterally-projecting mask integral therewith, said mask at or near itsjuncture with the cup-shaped portion being provided with a hole,substantially as described.

7. In an inhaler, a combined medicamentholder and face-mask comprising astanding cup-shaped portion having a flat bottom and adapted to hold amedicament or the like, and a laterally-projecting face-mask integraltherewith, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN B. SLOANE.

Witnesses:

Orrro F. BARTHEL, V. D. KINNER.

